Although we rate the lemons of the Amalfi coast as the biggest and most lemony of them all, nine out of ten lemons produced in Italy actually come from Sicily.

Indeed, in the Province of Messina the production of lemons even exceeds that of the more famous oranges.

The climate means a long growing season and the gathering of lemons takes place over three distinct periods.

First is the autumn harvest or 'primo fiore', followed by the cultivation of the 'bianchetti' in Spring and the 'verdelli' between June and July.

The most common variety of lemon is the 'femminello' which also has its own strains, some with seeds some without.

Of the other types, lemon enthusiasts might like to take a closer look at the 'monachello', the 'interdonato' and the 'femminello S.Teresa'.